ESPN makes it official: Lewis hired as NFL analyst (updated)

In a move that has been rumored since he announced his retirement Jan. 2, 12-time Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis will join ESPN as a NFL studio analyst, the network announced today.

Lewis, a two-time Super Bowl winner and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, will appear on “Monday Night Countdown,” “Sunday Night Countdown” and “SportsCenter,” as well as contributing to Super Bowl coverage.

ESPN also plans to have Lewis produce specials similar to Jon Gruden’s “QB Camp” series. He is expected to start Aug. 1.

Lewis appeared on the 6 p.m. “SportsCenter” to discuss the free-agent losses of his former team, the Baltimore Ravens. Granted, it was his first day on the job, but it bothers me to hear a college-educated person speak this way:

“When you get into the Paul Kruger [situation], you knew that we wasn’t going to be able to probably sign Joe Flacco and Kruger back. … I was on the phone with him yesterday, and me and him was kind of working out the deal that, you know, I’m kind of playing, you know, liaison on the side.”

ESPN obviously feels he has a lot of upside. Certainly he has room for improvement.